FOSTER
FOSTER’S A Grade side faced a challenging Round 3 fixture, suffering a nine-wicket defeat against Korumburra at the Foster Cricket Ground. After Korumburra won the toss and elected to bowl, Foster struggled to build momentum, all out for 113 in 39.2 overs.
The innings was marred by a significant middle-order collapse, which saw Foster lose four wickets for eight runs. Andrew Pattie (23 off 20) and Gurinder Singh (18 off 16) showed brief intent, but were overshadowed by a dominant bowling performance from Korumburra. Captain Harry McNeil was the chief wrecker, finishing with outstanding figures of four wickets for just 20 runs off 7.2 overs. He was well supported by Jacob Whiteside (2/13) and Mitch Young (2/19).
Unfortunately for Foster, their innings was undone by a significant middle-order collapse, losing four wickets for just eight runs. Andrew Pattie (23 off 20, 4 fours) and Gurinder Singh (18 off 16, 2 fours and a six) showed intent but were overshadowed by a dominant bowling performance from Korumburra.
Captain Harry McNeil was the chief wrecker, finishing with outstanding figures of four wickets for just 20 runs off 7.2 overs. He was well supported by Jacob Whiteside (2/13) and Mitch Young (2/19).
The target of 114 proved no challenge for Korumburra’s top order. Opener Rumesh Rangana led a brutal and rapid chase, blasting an unbeaten 74 runs off only 41 balls, a knock that included six sixes. Rangana partnered with Caleb Turton (30 off 27) for a match-winning 109-run opening stand. Korumburra achieved the target in a blistering 11 overs (1/116), with captain Mitchell Allott taking the sole wicket for Foster.
Foster will face MDU this weekend at Meeniyan Rec Reserve.
GLEN ALVIE
GLEN Alvie's B Grade secured a comprehensive 64-run victory over Imperials in Round 3 at the Glen Alvie Recreation Reserve. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Glen Alvie set a competitive target, reaching 7/150 from their 40 overs.
The innings was anchored by a solid performance from the top order. Opener Steven Smith played a patient hand, scoring 43 off 82 balls, before Lucas Ton provided crucial late acceleration with 36 runs off 43 deliveries, featuring two sixes and a four. Edward Spiteri-Stevens contributed a steady 24, helping Glen Alvie post a defendable total. Imperials' bowling was led by James Jeffery (2/14) and Lachlan O'Connor (2/27).
The Imperials' chase was quickly dismantled by disciplined bowling. Apart from one determined batsman who scored 30 runs, the lineup struggled to cope with the pressure, collapsing to be all out for 86 in the 35th over. Edward Spiteri-Stevens delivered a match-winning spell, claiming three wickets for just 15 runs. Nate Luff (2/9) and Luke Scholz (2/9) were also exceptional.
IMPERIALS
THE Imperials faced Phillip Island at the Cowes Recreation Reserve in A1 on Saturday.
The away side was sent into bat first and got an early start from Rowen McLennan and captain Jack Ginnane.
Young Klayton McGrath has shown some excellent form early in the season and continued his run after hitting 45 on the weekend.
However, three run outs against the Imperials hurt their chance at victory.
Phillip Island came in with a young bowling side and impressed the Imperials with their skills.
George McCausland and Thomas Niven took two wickets each.
The Imperials started well with their bowling, led by Lachie Wright and McGrath.
Max Arceo opened for Phillip Island and performed well.
However, it was captain Daniel Mock who ensured Phillip Island took the win.
Mock was unbeatable, making 77 not out before Phillip Island had chased down the Imperials’ score.
The Imperials will once again host its Woolworths Blast program at Leongatha’s East Campus from 4pm on Thursday.
A successful session was held at the East Campus last week to launch the program.
INVERLOCH
INVERLOCH held its own against Nerrena in Saturday’s A1 match, but ultimately the Red Caps walked away with the points.
Nerrena won the toss and chose to bat first.
Inverloch bowled well, with both Lewis Rankin and Ron Abeysinghe taking two wickets each.
Brett Poll, making his A Grade debut for Inverloch, was also a wicket-taker.
“The game was a bit of a mixed bag. Our bowling was strong, and we thought we might be in with a chance against a quality side. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make the most of our opportunities with the bat,” captain Dave Newman said.
Nerrena bowler Jarrod Hoy ran through Inverloch’s batting order, taking five wickets.
Things were looking dire for Inverloch when it was sitting on 9/60, but Ty Debono and Harry Butcher came in at the end and salvaged the score, bringing it up to 105.
Inverloch will have the bye in round four.
KILCUNDA-BASS
B2 – By Andrew Leighton
KILCUNDA-BASS Cricket Club (B2) faced Koonwarra RSL at the Mary MacKillop Ground in Leongatha. After losing the toss, Bass bowled first. Koonwarra started strongly with the bat until James Papworth (3/26) broke through with a near-unplayable delivery for the first wicket.
Ro Duff was the pick of the bowlers, delivering a masterclass in line and length to finish with 1/10 off 8 overs.
Chasing 162 for victory, Bass started conservatively, seeing off the opening bowlers before the tea break. After the interval, Joel Dickson (47) and Ray Gardiner (18) steadied the innings. Zac Crow (21) played a crucial role in keeping the momentum going, while Jackson Baker (25) and Ro Duff (11) held their nerve to guide Bass to victory, winning by two wickets.
A2 – By Matt Grayson
Bass hosted Glen Alvie this week, facing a developing side with confidence. Winning the toss for the second week in a row, Bass elected to bat. Openers Cam Davidson (51) and Rob Wallace (34) gave the side an excellent start, with Rob looking solid as always and Cam punishing anything short or overpitched – striking nine boundaries in his innings.
Bass lost Cam in the 18th over shortly after he reached his half-century, with the score at 1/82. Glen Alvie then tightened up with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding, restricting Bass through the middle overs. Brad Wright (25) fell in the 34th over with the score on 3/137, but Bass remained in a strong position with a deep batting lineup to come.
Todd Smith joined Matt Grayson (39)* at the crease, immediately lifting the tempo. Todd smashed 35 off 26 balls*, including a big six down the ground in the penultimate over. Bass closed out their 40 overs at 3/197.
With the ball, Cam Davidson and Todd Smith (1/8) opened the attack economically, restricting Glen Alvie to just 19 runs off the first 10 overs. Every bowler contributed, with Brad Wright, Ryan Brown, and Jaydan Tregear each taking two wickets, and Ben Rookes claiming three. Glen Alvie’s innings ended at 135 in the 37th over, sealing another comprehensive win for Bass.
Both A2 and B2 sides have started the season strongly at 2–0.
Next week, A2 travels to Nyora for a semi-final replay of last season, while B2 hosts Meeniyan Dumbalk in a top-of-the-table clash.
KORUMBURRA
A MIXED week on the field for the Cobras, with A Grade posting a strong win to continue their outstanding start to the season. Our B, C and U17 teams battled hard but couldn’t quite get the results, while our U15 side was unable to complete their match due to wet weather.
It was great to see our first turf wicket of the season prepared, and a big thank you goes out to our turf management team – Evan Allaway, Mitch Young, Jason Richards and Rooster Dunn – for their hard work in producing a fantastic wicket. Also, a special mention to Ray Cruickshank for his terrific work on the mower, with the oval and surrounds looking an absolute treat.
It was fantastic to see a strong local crowd at the ground on Saturday afternoon, enjoying the cricket, sunshine and great community spirit while supporting the town’s cricket club. Your ongoing local support is truly appreciated!
The Cobras’ annual Chopper Lotto is back on Friday, December 20 – our club’s biggest event of the year!
This year, we’re planning something extra special, with a surprise announcement to honour one of our Cobra Legends. Make sure you mark the date in your diary and keep an eye on club announcements for all the exciting details.
It’s going to be a night you won’t want to miss!
A Grade: Korumburra 1/116 defeated Foster all 10/113
A Grade hit the road to Foster and got off to a great start after winning the toss and sending the home side in. The Cobras opened with some tight bowling, making runs hard to come by early. Foster managed to build a couple of handy partnerships through the middle, but our bowlers finished strongly, taking the last three wickets for no runs to have them all out for 113.
Captain Harry McNeill led the way with a superb spell of 4/20, while Jacob Whiteside (2/13), Mitch Young (2/19) and Liam Dole, who claimed his first A Grade wicket, finishing with 2/30, all bowled beautifully.
Chasing 114, the Cobras batted with real intent, running down the total inside 11 overs. Openers Caleb Turton and Rumesh Rangana continued their outstanding form, putting on their second consecutive 100+ run partnership. Rumesh was again in devastating touch with 74 off 46 balls* (including 3 fours and 6 sixes), while Caleb contributed a solid 30 off 27 balls, featuring 3 fours and, notably, his first ever career six!
A dominant win for the A Grade boys, continuing their strong start to the season.
B Grade Korumburra 10/34 lost to Inverloch 8/195
Our young B Grade side faced a tough challenge against a very experienced Inverloch outfit, with the visitors batting first and getting away strongly on the turf at Korumburra.
The introduction of Noah Belvedere into the attack paid dividends as he picked up a couple of key wickets and slowed the scoring rate, finishing with 2/31. One of our promising young bowlers, Hudson Jefferis, then took charge, crashing through the middle and lower order. Huddo claimed his first career B Grade wicket and continued on superbly to finish with 4/31, and was unlucky not to pick up a hat-trick!
Billy Dourley also celebrated his first senior wicket for the club, while Paddy Beadel chimed in with one as well, as the Cobras bowlers worked hard against strong opposition.
Unfortunately, our run chase never got going, with both openers back in the sheds early and not much joy to follow. Noah Belvedere battled hard for six off 38 balls, Matt Allen contributed nine off 16, and Liam Maskell showed some defiance with two off 33, but we were eventually dismissed for 34.
A tough day at the office for the young Cobras, but plenty of positives with the ball, especially the breakthrough performances from our up-and-coming bowlers.
C Grade Korumburra Lost to MDU
Unfortunately, we were unable to field a side this week, with a combination of injuries from the previous round, unavailability and illness causing selection havoc. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t get a full team together on the day.
We’re confident of bouncing back next week and getting the boys back out on the park.
U17 Korumburra 7/58 lost to Leongatha Combine 4/115
The club’s U17 side faced a strong Leongatha Combined outfit this week. Batting first, our top order struggled to get an innings going, with co-captain George Edwards the only player to reach double figures, making a well-compiled 14 runs at nearly a run a ball.
Leongatha showed their strength with the bat in reply, reaching 4/115. Tyler Dole was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/12, while Billie Wrighley and Owen Maskell each chipped in with a wicket apiece.
A tough outing for the young Cobras, but valuable experience against quality opposition.
Under 15: Korumburra/Nyora 1/51 V Koonwarra RSL/Leongatha Town – Match Abandoned due to rain.
The U15s got off to a strong start in their first game of the season on the turf at the “Field of Dreams.” They were 1/52 when rain interrupted play.
Flynn Belvedere (12*) and Oliver Cranston (9*) both reached their maximum-ball retirements, while Elijah Le Serve (11*) was still at the crease when rain brought an early halt to the match.
A promising start for the young side, showing plenty of potential for the season ahead despite the weather.
LEONGATHA TOWN
LEONGATHA Town fell just short in its A Grade clash against OMK, despite a superb unbeaten century from Madura Madusanka.
Batting first, Town posted a competitive total of 5/178, anchored by Madusanka’s dominant 116 not out.
Luke Ashton provided solid support with 15 runs, but wickets at key moments prevented Town from building further momentum.
In reply, OMK chased down the target with wickets in hand, finishing 3/180.
Madusanka again led the way with the ball, claiming 2/26, while Rhett Hume chipped in with 1/36.
It was a standout all-round performance from Madusanka, who continued his excellent early-season form, but OMK’s strong batting effort ultimately secured the win.
B Grade was disappointed with its result at Outtrim, going down despite some solid performances and the welcome return of several young bowlers.
OMK set a strong total of 7/216, with Jack Aeschlimann taking 2/58 and Pandukabhaya Jayasinghe chipping in with 1/12.
It was great to see Ethan Smith, Ryan Jorgensen, and Jack Aeschlimann all back in action – the trio bowled well and showed plenty of promise for the season ahead.
In reply, Town was bowled out for 69, with Hugh Livingstone top scoring on 19 and Sam Clark contributing 15.
Clark also impressed with the ball, putting in a solid all-round performance.
While the result didn’t go Town’s way, there were encouraging signs throughout the match, and the team will take plenty of positives into next week’s game.
It was a great day out for C Grade, taking the win over Glen Alvie with a strong all-round performance.
Father and son pair Ash and Shem Hickey opened the batting, while another family duo, Marshall and Angus Livingstone, also took to the crease together – a proud moment for both families.
Poly Joseph top-scored with 33, while Ash Hickey added 25 and Angus Livingstone contributed 15, helping Town to a total of 8/140.
Young Callum Smith showed maturity beyond his years, digging in for a valuable eight off 30 balls.
With the ball, Ash Hickey tore through Glen Alvie’s top order, finishing with brilliant figures of 4/11 off seven overs.
Angus Livingstone bowled tightly, taking 1/15 off seven, while wickets were also shared among Poly Joseph (1/5), Alyssa Edwards, Cal Smith, and Harvey Aeschlimann (1/6).
It was a fine team effort from start to finish, capped off by some memorable family moments and a well-earned victory for the Scorps.
MDU
MEENIYAN Dumbalk United's B2 team kicked off the season with a second decisive victory in their second game for the season, defeating Nyora by five wickets at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve. MDU A Grade captain Mitch McGrath confirmed the result, stating, “Our B grade yesterday had a good win over Nyora, winning by five wickets.”
The win was built on a strong performance with both ball and bat. Nyora was restricted to 9/168 off their 40 overs, thanks primarily to Daniel Feild, who took four wickets for 33 runs off his eight overs. All-rounder Steve Arnup also contributed significantly by picking up three wickets for 35 runs.
Chasing 169, MDU reached the total quickly, securing the win in just 28.3 overs (5/170).
The opening pair set the innings up strong with Steve Arnup getting 63 off 65 balls and Tyrone Zukovskis getting 43 off 35,” McGrath stated.
Arnup’s commanding knock included nine boundaries and a six. The team will now carry this momentum into their next fixture.
“Next week, our B grade head over to Bass to hopefully keep things running,” McGrath concluded.
NYORA
NYORA fell agonisingly short of victory against Meeniyan Dumbalk United on Saturday, despite a standout all-round performance from Benn Hayes.
After Nyora won the toss and elected to bat at Meeniyan, Hayes anchored the innings with a classy 80 from 101 balls, guiding his side to a competitive 9/168 from 40 overs. Support came from Jordan Knox (18) and Michael Higgins (14), but tight bowling from Daniel Feild (4/33) and Steve Arnup (3/35) kept MDU in control.
“MDU bats were just too good in this match and that was the difference,” Nyora secretary Adam White said.
Hayes again impressed with the ball, taking 2/18 from six tidy overs, while captain Michael Lynch chipped in with 2/68 and Peiris claimed a wicket with his only over.
Nyora’s Over 50s side also began their season on a high, defeating Traralgon West at home on Sunday.
“Now in our third season of over 50s, we started off with a win.”
OMK
OUTTRIM Moyarra Kongwak (OMK) enjoyed a strong weekend of cricket, with all four sides taking to the field for the first time this season, capped off by a commanding 147-run win over Leongatha Town in B Grade Division 1.
Batting first, OMK compiled an impressive 7/216 from 40 overs, led by an 80-run opening stand between Adam Busana (57 off 40) and Kris Kerr (23 off 47).
“The main notable highlights was the opening partnership between Busana and Kerr to get us off to a good start. Young Toby Nicholas played a great patient innings in the middle order, and Tom Eustace did some late hitting to enable our total to reach over 200,” B1 captain Justin Greenwood said.
“With the ball, Peter Dell and Toby Nicholas started us off well.”
Dell bowled brilliantly, taking four wickets; the rest of the wickets shared around.
“A highlight was the one-handed diving catch by Nick Auddino in gully.”
Leongatha Town was bowled out for just 69 in 23.2 overs, with Dell claiming 4/25, Ben Maguire 3/9, and Auddino 2/16 in a dominant bowling display.
“It was a great weekend for cricket,” Greenwood added.
The club’s Reverse Draw function will be held this weekend, with tickets available from Russ White or on the night.
PHILLIP ISLAND
PHILLIP Island enjoyed a comfortable win over OMK in C1 on Saturday.
Playing at the Rhyll Cricket Ground, the Sharks won the toss and chose to bat first.
Oliver Hodson and Peter Francis opened and delivered a strong performance.
OMK bowler Steven Loader claimed Francis’ wicket after he had made 31 runs, which allowed Damien Holmes to step up to the crease.
Holmes and Hodson made 54 and 52 runs respectively,
The Sharks were not done though with Michael Cleary joining Holmes at the crease after the dismissal of Jon Parry at 3/134.
Cleary top scored with 57 runs and was also not out at the end of the innings.
Joel Cuman was OMK’s top bowler, taking 2/44.
OMK started its innings well with 32 runs from Russ White, but Phillip Island bowlers Holmes and Jackson Allan swept away the top of the batting order.
Paul Harper contributed 39 not out at the end of the innings.
The final scores were Phillip Island 3/227 defeated OMK 5/134.
*Special thanks to all the clubs for their comments and/or reports each week.
